Some sculptures demand attention. Others invite it.Echo Catcher, built in 2025, belongs to the second kind. Inspired by the long-standing tradition of bottle trees and ghost catchers, this piece explores how objects can hold silence, memory, and presence. Echo Catcher was designed to become a subtle guardian—something that doesn’t interrupt a space but deepens it. […]
Echo Catcher: A Sculpture That Listens to the Quiet Read More »
Every so often, a piece comes together that feels alive before the welds have even cooled. Junkyard Dog was one of those builds. Built entirely from reclaimed steel — chains, wrenches, gears, and the kind of forgotten parts that usually live out their days in a bucket by the shop door — this near
Standing in front of Granby Junior–Senior High School, Astralis greets students and visitors with a form that feels both grounded and celestial. Crafted from an old propane tank, this large-scale steel sculpture consists of two slightly concave intersecting circles—an intentional reference to eclipses, or the fleeting moment when light and shadow align in perfect balance.
Astralis Sculpture in Granby, Massachusetts: Exploring Balance and Light Read More »
By Donald Longley, Hercworx Studios At Lake Wallace in Belchertown, Massachusetts, a tall, graceful heron now stands watch over the water’s edge. Crafted entirely from reclaimed steel, the Blue Heron sculpture embodies the quiet balance and strength found in nature — and serves as a lasting reminder of how art can deepen our connection to
Blue Heron Sculpture at Lake Wallace: Celebrating Nature Through Reclaimed Steel Read More »
Finished and installed at Chestnut Hill SquareBy Donald Longley After weeks of shaping, welding, and sanding, the Mayflower sculpture is now complete — and installed at Chestnut Hill Square, thanks to the generous support of Northeast Development and the New Art Center. This piece started as a simple idea: take the soft, easily overlooked mayflower
The Mayflower Has Landed Read More »
Welding, Painting, and Bringing Public Art Back to Life in Western Massachusetts In a world of digital checkouts and e-books, there’s still something wonderfully old-school about returning a library book in person—especially when you’re greeted by an elephant. The Warren Library in Warren, Massachusetts has long featured a whimsical elephant-themed outdoor book drop. Beloved by
Reconditioning the Warren Library Elephant Drop Box Read More »
A recognizable fixture in Belchertown is coming down—but not disappearing. The old radio tower behind the Belchertown Police Department, once used for emergency communication, is being carefully dismantled. In its next life, the tower will be transformed into a large-scale public sculpture that reflects Belchertown’s spirit of remembrance, creativity, and renewal. A Star is Born:
From Signal to Sculpture: Belchertown’s Radio Tower Begins Its Next Chapter Read More »
At Hercworx, I love turning junk into something meaningful—and for a while now, I’ve had a rainbow trout sculpture on my list. After finally carving out some time between other builds, I decided to make it happen. This metal trout is about 28 inches long, made entirely from scrap, old tools, bike chain, and repurposed
Forging a Rainbow Trout from Scrap Metal: The Full Build Read More »
At Hercworx, we love a good challenge—and today’s project was definitely a first! In this build, I created a scrap metal sculpture of a Labrador or Golden Retriever-style dog. Using nothing but leftover bolts, rods, wrenches, and steel parts from my workshop, I pieced together a 30-inch tall metal dog that captures both creativity and
Spending 40 Hours Building a Dog Sculpture Read More »
From Salvage to Sculpture: The Start of the Build What do you get when you combine a pile of scrap metal, a vision, and a few long days in a small shop? A handcrafted camera sculpture, built entirely from recycled metal, motorcycle parts, tools, and raw steel. I created this camera-inspired piece by hand, and
Win This Scrap Metal Camera Sculpture – Built by Hand, Given Away for Free Read More »
